U.S. patent application number 14/401586 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for appliance for disinfecting hand-held devices.
The applicant listed for this patent is Angelini Pharma, Inc.. Invention is credited to Guillermo J. Cohen Freue, William Warren Lynn, Gary Joel Mishkin.
Application Number | 20150115172 14/401586 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49584328 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150115172 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Freue; Guillermo J. Cohen ;
et al. |
April 30, 2015 |
APPLIANCE FOR DISINFECTING HAND-HELD DEVICES
Abstract
An appliance for disinfecting hand-held devices each having a
surface that is contacted manually when the device is in use,
composed of: a source of disinfecting radiation; and a conveyer
system operative to convey the devices past the source with the top
and/or bottom surfaces of each device facing the source, wherein
the conveyor system is composed of a plurality of hollow,
transparent rollers; and the source of disinfecting radiation
includes a plurality of lamps, each housed in a respective one of
the trans parent rollers.
Inventors: |
Freue; Guillermo J. Cohen;
(Louisville, KY) ; Mishkin; Gary Joel;
(Gaithersburg, MD) ; Lynn; William Warren; (Hilton
Head Island, SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Angelini Pharma, Inc. |
Gaithersburg |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49584328 |
Appl. No.: |
14/401586 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
May 17, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2013/041568 |
371 Date: |
November 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61789704 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
61648759 |
May 18, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
250/454.11 ;
250/455.11; 428/446; 428/702 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2202/122 20130101;
A61L 2202/26 20130101; A61L 2/10 20130101; C09D 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/454.11 ;
250/455.11; 428/702; 428/446 |
International
Class: |
A61L 2/10 20060101
A61L002/10; C09D 5/14 20060101 C09D005/14 |
Claims
1. An appliance for disinfecting hand-held devices each having a
surface that is contacted manually when the device is in use,
comprising: a source of disinfecting radiation; and a conveyer
system operative to convey the devices past the source with at
least one surface of each device facing the source, wherein: said
conveyor system comprises a plurality of hollow, transparent
rollers, and said source of disinfecting radiation comprises a
first plurality of lamps each housed in a respective ones of said
transparent rollers.
2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein each of said lamps produces
UV-C radiation.
3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein each of said lamps produces
radiation at a wavelength of 100-290 mm.
4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein each of said lamps produces
radiation having a wavelength of about 254 mm.
5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein each of said rollers is made
of quartz.
6. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a housing having an
open top and a lid for closing said upper top, said lid being
connected to said base by a hinge.
7. The appliance of claim 6, further comprising at least one safety
device connected to turn off said lamps in response of opening of
said lid.
8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said conveyor system has an
inlet end and an outlet end between which said lamps are disposed,
said appliance has an inlet opening at said inlet end of said
conveyor system and an outlet opening at an outlet end of said
conveyor system, and said appliance further comprises a UV
radiation blocking system enclosing said lamps to minimize the
escape of radiation through said inlet and outlet openings.
9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein said conveyor system defines a
conveying path between said inlet and outlet openings, and said UV
radiation blocking system comprises a plurality of curtains
extending across the conveying path.
10. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality
of lamps located above said first plurality of lamps, and wherein
said conveyor system is operative to convey devices between said
first plurality of lamps and said second plurality of lamps.
11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein each of said lamps of said
second plurality produces UV-C radiation.
12. The appliance of claim 11, further comprising an inner lid
member carrying said second plurality of lamps, said inner lid
member being pivotally mounted to said base.
13. An antibacterial covering for adherence on a surface of a
hand-held device, said covering comprising: a plastic film; and a
coating containing TiO.sub.2.
14. The covering of claim 5, wherein said coating further contains
silicon dioxide in a colloid of water acting synergistically.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to an appliance for
disinfecting hand-held devices having surfaces that are contacted
manually when the device is in use
[0002] Even in the cleanest environments, many kinds of microbes
will begin to multiply on surfaces and sometimes reach harmful
levels. If these contaminated surfaces are touched by individuals
or contact everyday products, the transfer of microbes begins,
resulting in cross-contamination. Pathogen bacteria, such as
Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin resistant
staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia Coli, can be spread
via cross-contamination, leading to infection and illness.
[0003] The increased use of cell phones, pdas, tablets, and other
hand-held devices by patients, visitors and healthcare workers in
healthcare facilities suggests the need to disinfect and prevent
pathogen growth on these devices to reduce cross-contamination and
possibly the incidence of hospital acquired infections.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a disinfection appliance
based on UV type light having an appropriate wavelength for
disinfecting hand-held devices.
[0005] The invention also provides a protective film with
antimicrobial capabilities that will cover the device screen, and
possibly the device keys and back, to prevent, or at least impede,
bacterial growth after the UV exposure.
[0006] One embodiment of the disinfection appliance according to
the invention includes a conveyor system, which may be
roller-based, for conveying devices along a conveying path, and
lamps disposed along the conveying path for producing disinfecting
light. The light wavelengths that presently appear to be most
effective are those that produce UV type C light.
[0007] According to preferred embodiments of the invention, at
least some of the rollers are transparent tubes, preferably of
quartz, but also possibly of glass or plastic, each enclosing a UV
lamp inside. Only the rollers enclosing a UV lamp need be
transparent to UV radiation.
[0008] Alternatively, lamps that are disposed below the conveying
path may be interposed between rollers in addition to, or in place
of, lamps that are enclosed by transparent rollers. However, if the
lamps are in rollers and the rollers are disposed next to one
another, a higher light flux can be produced along a conveying path
of limited length.
[0009] It is presently preferred to provide lamps both above and
below the conveying path. However, useful embodiments of the
invention can be provided with lamps that are only above, or only
below, the conveying path.
[0010] Various embodiments of the invention can be employed to
disinfect food trays that are used by people and that are used in
production of animal feed, silverware, shoes, toys and produce.
[0011] The invention can also be used to decontaminate toxic, or
suspected toxic, substances, such as white powder of unknown
origin, which could be anthrax, or to decontaminate clothing.
[0012] Protective films according to the invention have a titanium
dioxide or silver coating that shows bacteriostatic capabilities
when exposed to light. Depending on the exposure time in the
disinfecting appliance and the nature of the contaminating
organism, some level of contamination reduction can be achieved by
such a film as well. Microbiological reduction in any system is
achieved by the UV dose: C.times.T, where is radiation
concentration, in this case UV irradiance, and T is time. The
higher the exposure time the higher the UV dose.
[0013] The film may be made of PET, polypropylene or similar
materials such as urethane.
[0014] The film does not require an adhesive, although the use of
an adhesive is a possibility.
[0015] One product that can be incorporated into the film surface
and that also shows microbiocidal activity when exposed to normal
light environments is sold under the trade name Oxititan, developed
by Ecoactive Surfaces, Inc., a privately held Florida based
company. According to the manufacturer, the ingredients of Oxititan
are zinc, TiO.sub.2 and, optionally, silicon dioxide in a colloid
of water acting synergistically.
[0016] The film can also be made of a silver-containing material.
One such product is a screen shield marketed by Seal Shield LLC,
Jacksonville, Fla., under the trade designation ALIGN RIGHT.TM.
[0017] Preliminary tests have shown that the film impregnated with
Oxititan had some bacterial reduction capability. Therefore,
incorporation into a TiO.sub.2 film could have a beneficial
effect.
[0018] Preferred embodiments of the disinfecting appliance
according to the invention provide countertop conveyor systems
constructed to disinfect handheld devices utilizing UV light. The
system is constructed to achieve a disinfection end point of at
least 3-log reduction, or 99.9%. The footprint of the appliance is
dimensioned to accommodate at most 1 or 11/2 tablet devices, so
that the appliance can accommodate a tablet, such as an iPad.RTM.,
and a cell phone at the same time. However, embodiments of the
invention are not limited to any particular size.
[0019] One issue that is addressed, and successfully resolved, by
the present invention is that the bottom faces of the devices to be
disinfected will be in contact with the conveyor itself. If known
conveyors were used, the result would be a shadow effect that would
adversely affect the disinfection process of the surfaces in
contact with the conveyor.
[0020] The rollers containing lamps may be surrounded by a highly
reflective aluminum panel.
[0021] Compared to conventional belt systems, this approach has the
benefits that it simplifies conveyor mechanics, reduces conveyor
costs, allows 100% exposure of the bottom surfaces of devices to be
treated, and reduces the appliance footprint due to the absence of
shadowing effects.
[0022] Different mechanisms may be used to drive the rollers. One
example may be a belt conveyor marketed by Mini-movers, Inc. This
conveyor can be controlled with fixed or variable speed motors. The
belt must be made of a material that provides enough grip for the
rollers, including the quartz rollers.
[0023] For organisms, such as mold, that are more difficult to kill
the initial number of lamps used may be 11, for example.
[0024] The system is designed in a way that the exposure time and
the number of lamps can be adjusted in order to minimize the
footprint, cost and the number of lamps. Exposure times can go from
20 to 60 seconds and each lamp may have an individual connector
that can be connected or not, making the UV dose variable.
[0025] Preferred embodiments of appliances according to the
invention may have a housing provided with a movable lid and
equipped with mechanical and magnetic switches that operate in
response to opening of the lid, a magnetic latch to lock the lid in
its closed position, an ultrasonic sensor switch positioned and
operative to detect introduction of a handheld device into the
appliance, and connected to turn the conveying system and the lamps
on when a device is detected, a high temperature switch to turn the
appliance off if the internal temperature exceeds a selected value
and a double curtain system that blocks escape of UV radiation from
the appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is perspective view showing the housing of one
embodiment of an appliance according to the invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is front elevational view of the appliance of FIG. 1
with the front of the housing removed.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the appliance of FIG. 1
with the side of the housing removed.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of several components of
the appliance.
[0030] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of three embodiments of
roller drive components according to the invention.
[0031] FIGS. 8-10 are perspective views of a further embodiment of
the invention.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective detail view of the input end of the
further embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the further embodiment, with
its lid removed.
[0034] FIG. 13 is a perspective detail view of the further
embodiment, showing UV blocking curtains.
[0035] FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of an input tray used with the
appliance.
[0036] FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of an output tray used with the
appliance.
[0037] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the electrical components
of the further embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a housing 2
of an appliance according to the invention.
[0039] Housing 2 is composed of two vertical side walls, one of
which is shown at 4, a front wall 6 provided with an entrance slot
8 for introduction of devices to be disinfected, and a rear wall
(not shown) provided with an exit slot. The rear wall and exit slot
are essentially identical to front wall 6 and entrance slot 8. The
appliance also includes a top wall 10 provided to receive one or
more UV disinfecting lamps 40. FIG. 1 also shows one roller 14 used
to support and convey devices to be disinfected. The lower portions
of side walls 4 are provided with legs 16, 18 for supporting the
appliance while maintaining entrance 8 and the corresponding exit
slot at a convenient height. While legs 16 and 18 are shown
enclosing a hollow space that can extend along the entire length of
appliance 2, the provision of such a hollow space is not required
and the front and rear walls of the appliance could extend to the
bottom of the appliance. In fact, FIG. 1 shows only one example of
a housing, which can take many other forms, as will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of appliance 2 with the
front wall removed.
[0041] Appliance 2 may be provided with an aluminum mounting
structure 22 in the space between legs 16 and 18. The interior of
housing 2 is provided with a plurality of UV lamps, including
several lower lamps that will be located beneath the device being
treated, and several upper lamps that are located above the space
through which these devices pass. Housing 2 also contains a
plurality of rollers, a number of which are hollow and transparent,
each hollow and transparent roller surrounding, or housing a
respective lower UV lamp. The rollers are coupled, at one or each
end, to a drive system, such as chains, driven by a chain drive
conveyer 26 that extends transversally across the space through
which devices are conveyed. Chain drive conveyor 26 is rotated by a
suitable drive device that may include a motor and drive gears (not
shown in detail).
[0042] The interior of leg 16 may be provided with ballast and
controls as shown in FIG. 2.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a side view of the appliance with a side wall 4
removed. As seen in FIG. 3, the interior of the appliance is
provided with a device support arrangement in the form a plurality
of rollers 14 that are supported on suitable bearings that engage a
drive chain 30. Several of rollers 14, located midway between the
entrance and exit slots of housing 2, are hollow and transparent,
and may be made of quartz. While the rollers are mounted to rotate,
the UV lamps are stationary.
[0044] An additional group of UV lamps is disposed in an upper
portion of the appliance, beneath dome 12, to illuminate the upper
surfaces of devices being treated.
[0045] Lamps having the model designation AAWHO/14T are presently
considered to be suitable for achieving the desired results. For an
exposure distance of 4 inches in the conveying direction, at least
for the additional group of UV lamps disposed in the upper portion
of the appliance, the total dosage per lamp will be approximately
50000 .mu.W/cm.sup.2. The lamps on the bottom can be less than one
inch from the lower surfaces of the devices to be treated, since
they are embedded in the rollers, and can provide a lower dosage
level.
[0046] A drive chain 30 may be coupled to one end of each of the
rollers, or two such drive chains can be provided at opposite ends
of the rollers.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view showing an end of two of
the rollers 14a and 14b. Roller 14a is hollow and transparent and
contains a UV lamp 40 having two current supply electrodes 42.
Roller 14b may be solid and need not be transparent since it does
not contain a lamp.
[0048] At each end, each of the rollers is supported in a vertical
wall 50, optionally by a bearing arrangement that includes a
stationary member 52 and a rotational member 54, which bearing
arrangement may be in the form of a slide bearing or a roller
bearing.
[0049] Rollers 14 engage a suitable drive structure such as chain
30, which is shown FIG. 3.
[0050] Lamps 40 may be supported at their ends by a separate
stationary structure (not shown) constructed to allow electrical
connections to be made to terminals 42.
[0051] According to a simple embodiment of the invention, as shown
in FIG. 4, rollers 14 may be rotated by a simple drive belt 60 that
travels beneath rollers 14 and directly contacts the surfaces of
rollers 14. Preferably, drive belt 60 is made of a material having
a relatively high coefficient of friction.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a roller 14a provided, in the
region of an associated drive belt, with a coating, or ring, 64
having a relatively high coefficient to friction.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which each roller 14 is
secured to a toothed wheel, or gear wheel, 68 that will cooperate
with a drive chain such as chain 30.
[0054] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention in which each
transparent roller 14 (housing a lamp) is equipped with a toothed
wheel 68, while further toothed wheels 70 are provided, each
toothed wheel 70 being interposed between each succeeding pair of
toothed wheels 68. According to this embodiment, conveyor 26 will
engage one toothed wheel 68 or 70, at the entrance end of the
appliance, and each toothed wheel 68, 70 will rotate the succeeding
toothed wheel. With this arrangement, all of rollers 14 will be
rotated in the same sense.
[0055] FIGS. 8-15 illustrate another embodiment of an appliance 102
according to the present invention. As shown particularly in FIGS.
8-10, appliance 102 is provided with an input tray 106, an output
tray 110, an input opening 114 associated with input tray 106, a
status indicator 118, a lid 122, an output opening 126 associated
with output tray 110, a power switch 130 and lid hinges 134
connected between the body of appliance 102 and lid 122.
[0056] Status indicator 118 may be controlled to switch from red to
blue before displaying green. The green color is an indication that
the appliance is ready to be used.
[0057] The interior of appliance 102 is provided with a conveyor
and lamps similar to those shown and described in connection with
FIGS. 1-7.
[0058] FIG. 11 shows a portion of the interior of appliance 102 at
the input end. In one side wall of the appliance, there is provided
an ultrasonic sensor, or detector, 138. Also shown in FIG. 11 is a
portion of one UV blocking curtain 146, which may, according to one
embodiment, be composed of a series of filaments, or strands,
somewhat similar to the bristles of a paint brush. Blocking
curtains 146 are located at least ahead of and behind the region
provided with UV lamps, essentially at the center of the travel
path for devices inside appliance 102.
[0059] The interior of appliance 102 may also be provided with a
high temperature sensing switch 150 that is connected to turn the
lamps off if the temperature within the conveying zone exceeds a
selected value, for example 150.degree. F. This will also cause
status indicator 118 to turn red.
[0060] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the appliance with the lid
open. At the top of the body of the appliance, which will interact
with the edge of the lid that is remote from hinges 134, there are
provided a mechanical safety switch 154, a magnetic safety switch
158 and a magnetic safety latch 162. As in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-3, the appliance is provided with a first group of UV lamps
enclosed by transparent rollers to illuminate the bottoms of
devices being treated, and a second plurality of UV lamps disposed
above the path of travel of devices through the appliance. A
plurality of UV blocking curtains 146 are disposed in the region
between the first plurality and the second plurality of lamps.
[0061] Mechanical safety switch 154 is part of a three-level safety
mechanism. This switch will interrupt power to the appliance
control board as soon as top lid 122 is opened. This safety
mechanism will prevent the user from being exposed to UV-C
light.
[0062] Magnetic safety switch 158 is also part of the three-level
safety mechanism. This switch will interrupt the DC power to relays
on the control board of the appliance circuitry for supplying power
to the UV relays as soon as lid 122 is opened. This safety
mechanism will help to prevent the user from being exposed to UV-C
light. The UV lamps cannot operate if the magnetic switch does not
detect that lid 122 is closed.
[0063] Magnetic safety latch 162 is the third element of the
three-level safety mechanism and latches lid 122 in the closed
position with sufficient force to keep lid 122 closed. To open lid
122, the appliance has to be turned off in order to demagnetize
latch 162.
[0064] Lid 122 will be held in position by magnetic latch 162
[0065] As can also be seen in FIG. 12, the conveying system for
this embodiment is composed of a toothed belt 170 at one end of
rollers 142. A second, identical, toothed belt may be associated
with the opposite ends of the rollers. Each roller 142 is provided
at one, or each, end with a toothed wheel 174, having the form
shown in FIG. 6. The, or each, belt 170 is in toothed engagement
with associated wheels 174 in order to rotate the rollers.
[0066] The center region of the travel path, where the lamps are
located, is also provided with a separate top panel, or lid, 178,
which are hinged to the upper surface of the body of appliance 102,
below lid 122. The UV-C lamps above the path of travel for devices
are carried by panel 178. Panel 178 can be pivoted open to
facilitate replacement of the top lamps, or to remove a device that
has been stopped in the UV module. The input region and the output
region of the conveying path may each also be provided with one or
more further lids.
[0067] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the appliance with lid
122 removed. The conveying region has a plurality of UV blocking
curtains 180 to prevent the escape of UV radiation out of the
appliance. Curtains 180 include at least one curtain at the input
end, adjacent input opening 114, at least one curtain at the output
end, adjacent output opening 126, at least one curtain ahead of, or
upstream of, the UV lamps and at least one curtain following, or
downstream of, the UV lamps, preferably immediately before and
after the UV lamps.
[0068] The curtain at the input end is located to be fully closed
when a device enters the UV section, and the device will not reach
the curtain at the output end until after having left the UV
section. The curtain arrangement will assure that only a minimum UV
light, if any, can escape when a device is moving through the
curtains and when there is no device in the appliance. The curtains
are composed of strands of a material selected to block UV-C
radiation and made of a suitable UV blocking material known in the
art.
[0069] The conveyor system of an appliance according to the
invention may be provided with three conveyor modules, or units,
each having rollers driven by a separate motor. Although the
conveyor system could be composed of a single conveyor module with
a single motor, division of the conveyor system into three modules,
each with its own motor, allows the use of smaller motors with
lower torque requirements, facilitates manufacture by allowing
higher tolerances, and facilitates repair and maintenance in the
field.
[0070] Exemplary embodiments of input tray 106 and output tray 110
are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, respectively. As can be seen in FIG.
14, input tray 106 slopes downwardly toward the input opening to
allow devices to slide into the appliance. As can be seen in FIG.
15, output tray 110 slopes downwardly away from the output opening
to allow treated devices to slide away from the appliance and is
constructed with a raised lip at its free end to prevent devices
from falling onto the floor after exiting the appliance.
[0071] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of one example of electrical
circuitry that can be used to control the appliance according to
the invention. As shown, operating power, such as from an electric
outlet, is supplied to a main power switch 130 and from there to a
mechanical safety switch 154, high temperature responsive switch
150 and a power supply that supplies 24 volt power to magnetic
latch 162 and 12 volt power to a microcontroller 204. Ultrasonic
detector 138 is also connected to microcontroller 204.
Microcontroller 204 is also connected to an operator's interface,
which includes status indicator 118.
[0072] Operating power is supplied through high temperature switch
150 to cooling fans 210 and lamp control 214. Operating power is
supplied to lamps 40 from microcontroller 204 through switch 158
and a lamp control 214. Operating power is supplied to motors 218
from microcontroller 204 through a motor control 222.
[0073] Microcontroller 204 is constructed according to principles
well known in the art to supply control signals to lamp control 214
and motor control 222, which supplies operating power for motors
218.
[0074] As can be seen, whenever any one of switches 150, 154 and
158 is open, the supply of operating power to lamps 40 is
discontinued.
[0075] Microcontroller 204 is constructed to respond to a proximity
signal from detector 138 to initiate operation of motors 218 and to
cause operating power to be supplied to lamps 40. Fans 210 will
continue to operate as long as switches 150 and 154 are closed.
Lamps 40 will be turned off whenever magnetic safety switch 158 is
open.
[0076] Small handheld devices, e.g., having a length or width
smaller than 3 inches, may be introduced into the appliance on a
simple transparent quartz tray (not shown) of conventional
form.
[0077] The conveyor system according to the invention is divided
into three independently driven sections, or modules, a) input, b)
UV and c) output.
[0078] The input module receives a device to be sanitized and
conveys it to the UV Module. There are, for example, six rollers in
the input module and they are preferably made of acrylic.
[0079] The UV module is where the actual sanitizing process takes
place. This module has, for example, five quartz rollers within
each of which each there is housed a UV-C lamp 40. Since quartz
allows UV-C to pass through it, the bottom surface of a conveyed
device will have full exposure without any shadows. Also in this
module, there are, for example, five lamps 40 on top, above the
devices being treated, to allow the top surfaces of the devices to
be exposed to UV-C as well. Surfaces below the bottom lamps and
above the top lamps are made of, coated with, or provided with a
layer of, a reflective material, e.g., aluminum, with a mirror
finish to allow UV-C to be reflected, thus increasing the
efficiency of radiation utilization.
[0080] A handheld device to be sanitized will be introduced from
inlet tray 106 into input opening 114. Ultrasonic distance, or
proximity, sensing switch 138 will detect entry of the handheld
device into the appliance and turn on the operating mechanisms of
the roller based conveyor and the UV-C lamps. Status indicator 118
may be operated to turn purple, indicating that the UV-C lamps are
turned on. Then, the device will be conveyed on rollers 142 through
the UV lamp zone and delivered to output opening 126. At any time,
a new device can be introduced into the appliance before the device
that was previously introduced exits the conveying path.
[0081] At a preset time, for example 35 seconds, after the last
detection of a device by ultrasonic sensor 138, the roller based
conveyor and the UV-C lamps will be turned off. At that time,
status indicator 118 may be caused to turn green.
[0082] Once a conveyed device exits the UV module, it will be
conveyed to the output module, which will in turn move it to output
opening 126 and then onto tray 110.
[0083] The output module is identical to the input module in
construction.
[0084] The main operations of the appliance are controlled by a
microprocessor based control board.
[0085] The following functions are controlled with software in the
control board: [0086] Response to detection of a device by sensor
switch 138; [0087] Operation of the conveyor modules; [0088]
Operation of UV-C lamps 40 (FIG. 3); [0089] Operation of the status
indicator; [0090] Operation of the ballast feedback for proper lamp
operation; [0091] Monitoring of the number of cycles run.
[0092] Operation of the following components are controlled by
hardware and are not dependent on software: mechanical switch 154;
magnetic switch 158; magnetic latch 162; and high temperature
switch 150.
[0093] Prototype testing has indicated that most of the sleeves and
rollers may not need bearings to rotate, and can simply be
supported in openings or recesses in vertical support walls. In
this case, it would be desirable to select support walls of
materials having a low coefficient of friction. This approach
allows the rollers/sleeves to be mounted very close to each other.
Each roller/sleeve may be provided with a tape band having a high
coefficient of friction to engage with the drive belt and to
compensate for slight differences in roller vertical
positioning.
[0094] Several tests, reported below, were performed to measure the
effects of UV light on test objects that include slide mailers,
which simulate the cell phone backs and keypads, and petri dish
outer surfaces, which simulate tablet and cell phone screens. The
results of those tests appear below.
[0095] Note: One hundred microliters of the initially prepared
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia; Bacillus
stearothermophilus suspension was added to the top and bottom outer
surfaces of slide mailers, spread over a 2''.times.2'' surface, and
allowed to air dry before UV exposure. Slide mailers are plastic
pieces that simulate cell phone backs and keys. Heat inactivated
horse serum was added at a 5% concentration to Staphylococcus
aureus (SA) bacterial suspensions for samples listed as "with
serum". Bacteria were harvested from both top and bottom surfaces
of mailers using sterile dacron swabs moistened with sterile
reagent grade water (1 ml in tube). Each swab was immediately
vortexed in the remainder of corresponding 1 ml water tubes and
plated on tryptic soy agar to obtain plate counts.
TABLE-US-00001 Bacterial Count: Test Code Heterotrophic Sample
Number/Sample Sample Type/ Limit of Plate Site Media Type
Sensitivity Count Sa + 5T-S.a. 5% Serum 5 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None
Lamps Top Aerobic TSA B004 Detected Sa + 5B-S.a. 5% Serum 5 Swab-
10 CFU/swab None Lamps Bottom Aerobic TSA B004 Detected Kp +
5T-K.p. 5% Serum 5 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Top Aerobic TSA
B004 Detected Kp + 5B-K.p. 5% Serum 5 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps
Bottom Aerobic TSA B004 Detected Bs + 5T-B.s. 5% Serum 5 Swab- 10
CFU/swab None Lamps Top Aerobic TSA B004 Detected Bs + 5B-B.s. 5%
Serum 5 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Bottom Aerobic TSA B004
Detected Bs + C-B.s. Control 5% Swab- 10 CFU/swab 200,000 Serum
Aerobic TSA B004 Sa - C-S.a. Control No Swab- 10 CFU/swab 20,000
Serum Aerobic TSA B004 Sa + C-S.a. Control 5% Swab- 10 CFU/swab
20,000 Serum Aerobic TSA B004 Kp - C-K.p. Control No Swab- 10
CFU/swab 21,000 Serum Aerobic TSA B004 Kp + C-K.p. Control 5% Swab-
10 CFU/swab 20,000 Serum Aerobic TSA B004 Sa-3T-S.a. No Serum 3
Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Top Aerobic B004 Detected Sa-3B-S.a.
No Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Bottom Aerobic B004
Detected Sa + 3T-S.a. 5% Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Top
Aerobic B004 Detected Sa + 3B-S.a. 5% Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab
None Lamps Bottom Aerobic B004 Detected Ka-3T-K.p. No Serum 3 Swab-
10 CFU/swab None Lamps Top Aerobic B004 Detected Ka-3B-K.p. No
Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Bottom Aerobic B004 Detected
Ka + 3T-K.p. 5% Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps Top Aerobic
B004 Detected Ka + 3B-K.p. 5% Serum 3 Swab- 10 CFU/swab None Lamps
Bottom Aerobic B004 Detected B.s. + 3T-B.s. 5% Serum Swab- 10
CFU/swab 30 3 Lamps Top Aerobic B004 B.s. + 3B-B.s. 5% Serum Swab-
10 CFU/swab 10 3 Lamps Bottom Aerobic B004 Note: S.a. =
Staphylococcus aureus; K.p. = Klebsiella pneumonia; B.s. = Bacillus
stearothermophilus; 5T = 5 lamps above test objects; 5B = 5 lamps
below test object; 3T = 3 lamps above test objects; 3B = 3 lamps
below test object; +C = with serum; -C = without serum; CFU =
Colony Forming Units; B004 = the laboratory's test report code for
direct surface swabs-aerobes EI14314
[0096] Note: One hundred microliters of the initially prepared
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria suspension (95,000,000 CFU/ml) was
added to the top and bottom of slide mailer outer surfaces, spread
over a 2''.times.2'' surface, and allowed to air dry before UV
exposure.
[0097] Heat inactivated horse serum was added at a 5% concentration
to Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacterial suspensions for samples
listed as "with serum". Bacteria were harvested from both top and
bottom surfaces of mailers using sterile dacron swabs moistened
with sterile reagent grade water (1 ml in tube). Each swab was
immediately vortexed in the remainder of corresponding 1 ml water
tubes and plated on tryptic soy agar to obtain plate counts.
Samples were plated in triplicate: A, B, C.
TABLE-US-00002 Bacterial Count: Test Code Heterotrophic Sample
Number/ Sample Type/ Limit of Plate Sample Site Media Type
Sensitivity Count Staphylococcus Swab-Aerobic 10 235000
aureus-Mailer A- TSA CFU/swab Control with Serum B004
Staphylococcus Swab-Aerobic 10 210000 aureus-Mailer B- TSA CFU/swab
Control with Serum B004 Staphylococcus Swab-Aerobic 10 76000
aureus-Mailer C- TSA CFU/swab Control without Serum B004 SA
A-Mailer-UV- Swab-Aerobic 10 None Detected No Serum - Top TSA
CFU/swab B004 SA A-Mailer-UV- Swab-Aerobic 10 None Detected No
Serum-Bottom TSA CFU/swab B004 SA B-Mailer-UV- Swab-Aerobic 10 None
Detected No Serum-Top TSA CFU/swab B004 SA B-Mailer-UV-
Swab-Aerobic 10 None Detected No Serum-Bottom TSA CFU/swab B004
EI14443
[0098] Note: One hundred microliters of the initially prepared
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria suspension (95,000,000 CFU/ml) was
added to the top and bottom of petri dish (inanimate, non-food
contact surfaces that simulate the screens of tablets, cell phones,
etc.) outer surfaces, spread over a 2''.times.2'' surface, and
allowed to air dry before UV exposure. Heat inactivated horse serum
was added at a 5% concentration to Staphylococcus aureus (SA)
bacterial suspensions for samples listed as "with serum". Bacteria
were harvested from both top and bottom surfaces of dishes using
sterile dacron swabs moistened with sterile reagent grade water (1
ml in tube). Each swab was immediately vortexed in the remainder of
corresponding 1 ml water tubes and plated on tryptic soy agar to
obtain plate counts. Samples were plated in triplicate: A, B,
C.
TABLE-US-00003 Bacterial Count: Test Code Heterotrophic Sample
Number/ Sample Type/ Limit of Plate Sample Site Media Type
Sensitivity Count Staphylococcus Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab 650000
aureus-Dish A- TSA B004 Control with Serum Staphylococcus
Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab 750000 aureus-Dish B- TSA B004 Control
with Serum Staphylococcus Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab 240000
aureus-Dish C- TSA B004 Control without Serum SA A-Petri Dish
Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab None UV-No Serum-Top TSA B004 Detected SA
A-Petri Dish- Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab None UV-No Serum- TSA B004
Detected Bottom SA B-Petri Dish- Swab-Aerobic 10 CFU/swab None
UV-No Serum-Top TSA B004 Detected SA B-Petri Dish- Swab-Aerobic 10
CFU/swab None UV-No Serum- TSA B004 Detected Bottom EI14444
[0099] Note: Top and bottom surfaces of petri dishes (inanimate,
non-food contact surfaces) were challenged with Staphylococcus
aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria in triplicate to
determine the efficacy of UV exposure generated by the experimental
test unit. EPA Guidelines, DIS/TSS-10, were followed. In summary,
ten microliters of 18 hour bacteria broth cultures were added to
1.times.1 inch square areas on both top and bottom petri dish test
surfaces. Both bacteria challenges were performed independently. A
sterile wooden stick was used to spread each test inoculum prepared
with an organic load (5% heat-inactivated serum) over 1.times.1
inch square test areas and allowed to dry for 40 minutes in a
bacteriological incubator at 35 degrees Celsius. Test bacteria were
recovered using sterile water diluent and dacron swabs.
Heterotrophic plate counts were obtained using trypticase soy agar
(TSA). The number of viable bacteria on each test surface after
drying, with and without UV exposure, allowed bacterial reductions
to be determined and compared to the expected 99.9% performance
requirement. Abbreviations: SA=Staphylococcus aureus, KP=Klebsiella
pneumoniae.
TABLE-US-00004 Bacterial Sample Test Count: Type/ Code
Heterotrophic Sample Number/Sample Media Limit of Plate Site Type
Sensitivity Count 1-SA A-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 None UV-Serum-Top
Aerobic CFU/swab Detected B004 2-SA A-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 None
UV-Serum-Bottom Aerobic CFU/swab Detected B004 3-SA B-Petri Dish-
Swab- 10 None UV-Serum-Top Aerobic CFU/swab Detected B004 4-SA
B-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 None UV-Serum-Bottom Aerobic CFU/swab
Detected B004 5-SA C-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 None UV-Serum-Top Aerobic
CFU/swab Detected B004 6-SA C-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 None
UV-Serum-Bottom Aerobic CFU/swab Detected B004 7-SA A-Petri Dish-
Swab- 10 11,200,000 No UV-Serum-Top Aerobic CFU/swab B004 8-SA
A-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 10,900,000 No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab
Bottom B004 9-SA B-Petri Dish- Swab- 10 14,100,000 No UV-Serum-Top
Aerobic CFU/swab B004 10-SA B-Petri Swab- 10 12,800,000 Dish-No
UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Bottom B004 11-SA C-Petri Swab- 10
8,900,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Top B004 12-SA C-Petri
Swab- 10 10,500,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Bottom B004
14-KP A-Petri Swab- 10 None Dish-UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab
Detected Top B004 15-KP A-Petri Swab- 10 None Dish-UV-Serum-
Aerobic CFU/swab Detected Bottom B004 16-KP B-Petri Swab- 10 None
Dish-UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Detected Top B004 17-KP B-Petri
Swab- 10 None Dish-UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Detected Bottom B004
18-KP C-Petri Swab- 10 None Dish-UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab
Detected Top B004 19-KP C-Petri Swab- 10 None Dish-UV-Serum-
Aerobic CFU/swab Detected Bottom B004 20-KP A-Petri Swab- 10
870,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Top B004 21-KP A-Petri
Swab- 10 990,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Bottom B004
22-KP B-Petri Swab- 10 1,230,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab
Top B004 23-KP B-Petri Swab- 10 1,100,000 Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic
CFU/swab Bottom B004 24-KP C-Petri Swab- 10 840,000 Dish-No
UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Top B004 25-KP C-Petri Swab- 10 280,000
Dish-No UV-Serum- Aerobic CFU/swab Bottom B004 EI14471
[0100] Several tests were also performed to measure the effects of
UV light on a protective film used in the invention. The results of
those tests are reproduced below.
TABLE-US-00005 Film tests Study ID NG3263 Test Time CFU/ Average R
Value (Log10 Percent Microorganism Sample Point Sample CFU/Sample
Reduction) Reduction S. aureus Control Time Zero 2.70E+05 2.98E+05
N/A ATCC 6538 Time Zero 3.25E+05 24 Hour 3.42E+05 2.57E+05 24 Hour
1.72E+05 Silver 24 Hour <5 <5 4.41 >99.99% Treated 24 Hour
<5 4.41 >99.99% E. coli Control Time Zero 1.15E+05 1.20E+05
N/A ATCC 8739 Time Zero 1.50E+05 Time Zero 9.50E+04 24 Hour
1.48E+07 1.51E+07 24 Hour 1.84E+07 24 Hour 1.20E+07 Silver 24 Hour
<5 <5 6.48 >99.9999% Treated 24 Hour <5 6.48
>99.9999% 24 Hour <5 6.48 >99.9999% Study ID NG3264 R
Value (Log10 Percent R Value (Log10 Percent Reduction) Reduction
Reduction) Reduction Time CFU/ Compared to Control at Compared to
Time Sample Point Sample each Time Point Zero Control Control Time
Zero 1.95E+05 N/A N/A 2 Hour 8.40E+04 4 Hour 3.80E+03 6 Hour
6.95E+03 Oxititan 2 Hour 3.25E+04 0.41 61.31% 0.78 83.33% Treated 4
Hour 2.65E+03 0.16 30.26% 1.87 98.64% 6 Hour 2.00E+02 1.54 97.12%
2.99 99.90% Silver 2 Hour <10 3.92 99.99% 4.29 99.99% Treated 4
Hour <10 2.58 99.74% 4.29 99.99% 6 Hour <10 2.84 99.86% 4.29
99.99% Study ID NG3265 Time CFU/ R Value (Log10 Percent Sample
Point Sample Reduction) Reduction Control Time Zero 2.08E+05 N/A 24
Hour 3.25E+06 Silver 24 Hour <10 5.51 >99.999% Treated
[0101] Bacterial inoculum preparations and subsequent recovery
after UV exposure through the prototype ultraviolet test unit were
performed by technicians of Environmental Safety Technologies, Inc.
(EST). Direct operation of the UV test unit was performed alongside
laboratory personnel by Guillermo Cohen of Alcavis.
[0102] Two glass microscope slides were placed side by side
lengthwise and taped together using transparent tape. In the center
of each slide, a one inch by one inch test area for inoculation
with bacteria was drawn. A strip of vinyl, white tape was applied
to one side. The connected slides were flipped over and one end of
each side was marked as either top or bottom.
[0103] The experimental challenge organism of this experiment was
the bacterium Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, aka MRSA
(ATCC 700698), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecium, aka VRE
(ATCC 700221), Acinetobacter baumanii (ATCC 19609). Bacteria were
grown overnight in Trypticase Soy Broth at 33 degrees Celsius.
[0104] The experimental challenge organism of this experiment was
the bacterium Clostridium difficile (ATCC 700057). Bacteria were
grown on BHIS agar medium containing 0.1% taurocholate plates for a
sufficient time to induce uniform sporulation. The bacteria were
then washed off the agar plate into sterile distilled water and
stored at 4 degrees Celsius until use. A Gram-stain examination of
the suspension confirmed that >95% of the bacterial cells
contained a spore.
[0105] One hundred microliters of this bacterial stock suspension
prepared with the addition of 5% heat inactivated serum (MP
Biomedicals Product No. 2921149) was applied to each 1 inch.times.1
inch area test surface of both the top and bottom marked slides
(pre-cleaned with alcohol). The inoculum was then streaked over
each surface with a sterile applicator and allowed to air dry
(.about.45 minutes) at room temperature.
[0106] Inoculated surfaces were folded backwards, providing both a
top and bottom test surface when placed on the UV unit's rollers.
Each prepared slide was handed off and run through the ultraviolet
lamp prototype unit. After a 20 second total cycle time, the slide
was immediately returned to a laboratory technician for bacteria
recovery.
[0107] A sterile, Dacron.TM. swab, wetted after dipping into a tube
containing 1 ml of sterile water, was used to recover bacteria from
inoculated top and bottom slide surfaces. Swabs were vortexed in
the same tube of remaining 1 ml sterile water, plated on trypticase
soy agar, incubated overnight at 33 degrees Celsius, and counted to
obtain the number of surviving viable bacteria.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE Glass Slides Results in Preproduction System
Material Glass Slides Organism Initial Count Final Count Reduction
Geobacillus* 300000 27 99.99100% MRSA* 450000 0 >99.99978% VRE*
400000 5 99.99875% Acinetobacter* 8500 0 >99.98824% C. Diff**
4000 0 >99.97500% *Average of both Initial counts, and Final
counts respectively **Average of both Initial counts, and Final
counts respectively in faster run experiment
[0108] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such
modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention.
[0109] The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims,
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
therefore intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *